Recent rain in Hawke’s Bay is a boon for the New Zealand pipfruit industry, but the season is now likely to start a little later than predicted, beginning in the third week of February.
The 52mm of rain last Sunday will mean growers need to irrigate less coming into harvest, according to Pipfruit New Zealand CEO Peter Beaven.
“Normally at this time of the year, the land is drying out and we are irrigating like crazy as the leaves, shoots and fruit are expanding in size,” Beaven told the Hawke’s Bay Today.
“To get rain like that is a bit of a godsend because it’s going to enhance the quality and size of the fruit and save a lot of irrigation costs on watering the land through to the end of harvest.”
Picking of Royal Gala apples is expected to start 12-15 February, about a fortnight behind the average.
“What you will find is that the season will start late but finish about the same time, the later varieties won't be affected,” Beaven detailed.
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